The RUNE WALKER Build is the EASIEST Arcanist Build you can play in ESO for both Solo and Group Content! With a flexible and EASY One Bar Rotation and No Trials Gear needed this is the ultimate starter build for the Arcanist Class!
Arcanist Class Overview
The Arcanist Class is an extremely powerful way to play in The Elder Scrolls Online. Arcanists have many similarities with other classes in ESO such as dedicated Class Skill lines for DPS, for Healing, and for Tanking. Arcanists are also extremely unique in that they make use of a powerful new game mechanic called Crux. For a more detailed guide be sure to review our ESO Arcanist Class Guide located here.
Primary Sets
First, the Sergeant’s Mail set is undoubtedly the strongest Heavy Attack set in the game still in terms of raw damage output. Keep in mind though that this effect has a stacking mechanic and you must maintain all 4 stacks in order to receive the highest damage.
We’ve combined this with another Heavy Attack set, Noble Duelist, which buffs all of our Heavy Attacks by a Massive amount and is easy to maintain while in melee range.
The Oakensoul Ring is the go to Mythic Item for One Bar Builds and packs a punch, delivering many powerful Major and Minor buffs, and in this case the Heavy Attack buff “Empower.”
Finally, a one piece Monster Set is perfect for adding some extra stats to this build. A great option is Slimecraw for the additional Critical Chance.
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Adds 129 Health Recovery
(4 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(5 items) When you deal damage with a Heavy Attack, you gain a stack of Sergeant’s Focus for 5 seconds, increasing the damage of your Heavy Attacks by 645 per stack. This effect can occur once every second and stacks up to 4 times.
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery
(3 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(4 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(5 items) When you deal damage with a Light or Heavy Attack in melee range, you cause your Light and Heavy Attacks to deal an additional 2111 damage for 15 seconds. This effect can occur once every 12 seconds.



The Oakensoul Ring
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(1 item) While equipped, you are unable to swap between your Primary and Backup Weapon Sets and gain Minor Berserk, Minor Courage, Major Brutality, Major Sorcery, Major Prophecy, Major Savagery, Minor Force, Minor Protection, Major Resolve, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, Minor Endurance, Minor Heroism, Minor Aegis, Minor Slayer and Empower.
Volcanic stone for Firesong. Gems for Eldertide. With Stonelore craftsmanship to bind them together. This ring is the Draoife Incarnate. The might of the druids, in the palm of your hand.
Slimecraw
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(1 item) Adds 771 Critical Chance
(2 items) Gain Minor Berserk at all times, increasing your damage done by 5%
Alternative Sets
Either heavy attack set can be easily replaced on this build. For Alternate Sets, look for anything with Critical Chance such as Mother’s Sorrow or Order’s Wrath.
Mother’s Sorrow
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
(3 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(4 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(5 items) Adds 1528 Critical Chance
Order’s Wrath
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(3 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(4 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(5 items) Adds 943 Critical Chance, Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 8%.
Oakensoul Ring Lead Locations
Getting the Oakensoul Ring in ESO is easier than you might think! Check out our full Oakensoul Ring Guide.



Gear Set Up
Weapon/Armor | Set | Trait | Weight | Glyph |
Main Hand | Sergeant’s Mail Lightning Staff | Precise | NA | Shock Enchant |
Head | Slimecraw | Divines | Medium | Magicka |
Shoulder | Noble Duelist | Divines | Light | Magicka |
Chest | Sergeant’s Mail | Divines | Heavy | Magicka |
Waist | Noble Duelist | Divines | Light | Magicka |
Gloves | Noble Duelist | Divines | Light | Magicka |
Legs | Noble Duelist | Divines | Light | Magicka |
Feet | Noble Duelist | Divines | Light | Magicka |
Necklace | Sergeant’s Mail | Bloodthirsty | NA | Spell Damage |
Ring 1 | Sergeant’s Mail | Bloodthirsty | NA | Spell Damage |
Ring 2 | Oakensoul Ring | Bloodthirsty | NA | Spell Damage |
Consumables, Race, Mundus
Khajiit is my favorite race for this build due to their increased Critical Damage and Resource Pools! Other damage-focused races like High Elf, Dark Elf, and even Orc will work also.
Mundus



The Thief
Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1333
With 7 Divines armor pieces
Increases the Critical Strike rating by 2167
Food/Drink Buff



Bewitched Sugar Skulls
Increase Max Health by 4620, Max Stamina and Magicka by 4250, and Health Recovery by 462 for 2 hours.
These effects are scaled based on your level.
Potions















Basic Magicka Potions















Basic Increase Armor Potions
Bugloss, Mountain Flower, Mudcrab Chitin
Skills
Main Weapon: LIGHTNING STAFF – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
- Unstable Wall Of Elements
- Tentacular Dread
- Chakram Of Destiny
- Escalating Runeblades
- Rune Of Colorless Pool or Evolving Runemend
- ULT: Tide King’s Gaze
Skills Discussion & Rotation
Buffs
Start by casting Chakram Of Destiny for a shield, then use your Armor Potion.
Rotation
Cast Unstable Wall Of Elements, then Tentacular Dread to debuff the enemy. Alternate Heavy Attacks with Escalating Runeblades to build Crux. Recast Unstable Wall Of Elements and Tentacular Dread when they expire. Tentacular Dread is more effective if cast with 3 Crux active.
Use Rune Of Colorless Pool to debuff bosses then nuke them with Tide King’s Gaze. You can also use Colorless Pool to stun dangerous enemies such as archers and casters.
Passive Skills
Class Passives
- Herald of the Tome
- Apocryphal Soldier
- Curative Runeforms
Weapon Passives
Armor Passives
Champion Points
Below you will find the recommended Active and Passive Champion Point Stars for this build, broken down into 300, 600, 900, and 1200 CP ranges.
For more information on Champion Points click on a Star name below or browse our detailed Champion Points Guides.
Constellation Descriptions:
Craft
The Green Craft Constellation is focused on crafting and utility-centered upgrades.
Warfare
The Blue Warfare Constellation focuses primarily on increasing player damage, healing and defenses
Fitness
The Red Fitness Constellation is focused on character survival and sustain.
– 300 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
– 600 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
– 900 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
– 1200 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
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